Community groups plan events for Climate & Biodiversity Festival programme

Dozens of community groups have stepped forward to organise events as part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s Climate and Biodiversity Festival, which will take place from 24 September to 2 October.

The council put out a call for community groups and residents to submit a proposal for an event they would like to run as part of this year’s festival to help showcase what is happening across Bath and North East Somerset and encourage people to get involved.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, said: “This is the second year we have run our Climate and Biodiversity Festival and we were delighted by the positive response to our call out and the range of suggestions we received from organisations wanting to get involved. We are looking forward to working with everyone to create a wide-ranging programme with something of interest for everyone."

“The theme this year is take action for your community and we are keen to raise the profile of these local groups and encourage action across all parts of the community to help us deliver on our climate commitment.”

The council is co-ordinating the programme of face-to-face and online events. The first events have already been added to the festival website and are available to book. Additional events will be added throughout the summer.

Family events include the Big Family Apple Day at Farmborough Community Shop, a Biodiversity Event at Beckford’s Tower, a Community Farmer Day in Chew Magna and a Woodland Family Morning organised by Creative Roots Outdoor Learning in Batheaston.

Keen gardeners can put their questions about wildlife and gardening to a panel of experts at St Luke’s Lower Hall on Friday 30 September, while anyone interested in learning more about tree ecology can join an event at Barrowmead Community Tree Nursery, Rush Hill on Sunday 2 October to promote the work of More Trees Banes, a network of community tree nurseries and Blooming Whiteway.

On Saturday 1 October, Shoscombe Climate and Nature Group will be running an afternoon of eco fun at the village hall and recreation field and Farmborough Memorial Hall will be holding an Eco Fair.

Transition Bath will be running a series of five online sessions bringing together small groups of neighbours, friends or colleagues to talk about the powers we have to make a difference. Eco Together is free to partake in and the sessions take place on Zoom.